Meeting in session: Muhyiddin together with a line-up of Bersatu leaders at the launch of the party’s general assembly at Menara PGRM. — ART CHEN/The Star
KUALA LUMPUR: The unity government may be forced to “drop out” of Putrajaya before the next general election, says Bersatu president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin.
He said the government of “strange bedfellows” could be forced out if they keep attacking him because they fear the influence of the Perikatan Nasional coalition.
On March 1, PAS president Tan Sri Abdul Hadi Awang said he expected the government to fall in the near future, but did not offer details on how it would happen.
He then said on March 6 that the Opposition had the right to plan to topple the government and no one could stop it from doing so.
Muhyiddin also challenged the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) to investigate PKR president Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and Umno president Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi over allegations of funds received from businessmen.
The Pagoh MP – who is facing corruption charges over misuse of power and bribery – claimed that the MACC would soon seize and foreclose Bersatu’s funds before the six upcoming state elections.
He said this in an opening speech to about 3,000 red-clad party delegates at the delayed 2022 Bersatu annual general assembly held at Menara PGRM here yesterday.
“I offered to stand down as party president but the supreme council refused to accept it. You delegates too kept standing up to tell me to continue. I thank you and will continue my duty to serve the party,” said the former prime minister.
“I was dragged to the courts on Friday and accused of misusing my position as the prime minister. And on Monday (today), I will be charged again in Shah Alam.”
Muhyiddin then said he was accused as the Bersatu president and not in his personal capacity.
“I am forced to face a 20-year prison sentence. This is the first time in Malaysia’s history that a party president is charged with receiving funds into the party account.
“I challenge the MACC to investigate PKR president Anwar and Umno president Ahmad Zahid on the source of funds for their parties. Where does DAP get their funds from?”
Muhyiddin said political parties do not profit from the funds they receive, and members and supporters, including businessmen, contribute funds.
“Without funds from others, no party can run in a democracy,” he added.
Muhyiddin then said he had been told that the Bersatu accounts would be seized and foreclosed so that the party would not have any funding before the upcoming state polls.
“Vendors of Bersatu are also investigated – those who print our party T-shirts and caps. This is to create fear among those who work with Bersatu,” he said.
Noting that Bersatu now has 31 seats compared with 14 after the 14th General Election in 2018, he said the unity government now fears that the trend would continue in the state polls.
“A survey by the mainstream media failed to give more than 50% marks to the current Cabinet ministers. This government may even drop out before the 16th general election, even though they may have a two-thirds majority in Parliament right now.
“They claimed that they are a unity government but it’s a ... government of strange bedfellows. They even fight among themselves in Parliament,” added Muhyiddin.
